The Confederation of African Football has overturned Edo Queens’ penalty-shootout victory over Ghanaian side Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the 2026 WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League qualifying final, ruling that the match should have gone into extra time before penalties.
The decision follows a protest from Ampem Darkoa after the final ended 2-2 following 90 minutes in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on September 5. Instead of playing the additional 30 minutes required by the competition regulations, the match proceeded directly to a penalty shootout, which Edo Queens won 4-1.
That result had initially handed Edo Queens the WAFU B title and the zone’s qualification place for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League. However, Ampem Darkoa challenged the decision, arguing that the regulations required two 15-minute periods of extra time to be played before penalties could be considered.
CAF has now upheld the Ghanaian club’s protest.
According to the ruling, Article 72.4 of the WAFU B regulations requires extra time whenever the final remains level after 90 minutes. Two 15-minute periods must be played, with a penalty shootout only becoming necessary if the scores remain level after the additional 30 minutes.
As a result, Edo Queens’ 4-1 shootout victory no longer stands as the final outcome of the competition.
However, CAF did not order the entire match to be replayed. Instead, the governing body ruled that the 90 minutes already played remain valid and that the final should resume from the existing 2-2 scoreline.
Both teams will therefore play 30 minutes of extra time, consisting of two 15-minute periods. If neither side can break the deadlock during extra time, the winner will then be determined through another penalty shootout.
CAF also determined that neither Edo Queens nor Ampem Darkoa should be held responsible for the decision to proceed directly to penalties. The Ghana Football Association reported that CAF attributed the error to an administrative instruction.
The unusual ruling means that a final which appeared to have been settled on the pitch must now be completed under the correct competition procedure.
Edo Queens had enjoyed an impressive run through the WAFU B tournament before the controversial conclusion. The Nigerian champions opened their campaign with a 7-0 victory over AS Garde Nationale before defeating ASEC Mimosas 3-1. They then lost 2-1 to Ampem Darkoa in their final Group B match, a result that handed the Ghanaian champions top spot in the group.
Edo Queens responded strongly in the semi-finals, producing one of their best performances of the competition with a 5-1 victory over hosts USFA. Doosuur Anastasia, Esther Moses, Valentina Uroko, Dooshima Tarnum and Aminat Ajoke Folorunsho were on target for the Nigerian side, while Windkuuni Leslie Beremwidougou scored USFA’s consolation goal.
Ampem Darkoa also reached the final in convincing fashion, defeating FC Dynamique 4-1 in their semi-final. The Ghanaian champions had remained unbeaten throughout the competition and had already demonstrated their ability to trouble Edo Queens during the group stage.
The September 5 final proved equally competitive. Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa finished regulation time level at 2-2 before the disputed penalty shootout gave the Nigerian side what appeared to be a 4-1 victory.
That outcome has now been erased from the competition record pending the completion of the final.
The rescheduled continuation will determine which team earns the WAFU Zone B ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. WAFU Zone B is expected to announce the date, kick-off time and venue for the continuation in consultation with CAF, Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa.
For Edo Queens, the ruling represents an unexpected setback after the team had celebrated what it believed was a historic continental qualification. The Nigerian champions must now return to the pitch and complete the remaining stages of a final that remains officially undecided.
For Ampem Darkoa, the decision provides another opportunity to claim the title after their original penalty-shootout defeat.
With the score locked at 2-2, the next 30 minutes could ultimately decide whether Nigeria or Ghana takes the WAFU B qualification slot for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
